The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-26
WORK ON THE AQUEDUCT.
A TRIUMPH OF MODERN ENGINEERIEG
NEARING COMPLEXION

A Tunnei Thirty Miles LouE Cut Through
the Reek and Large Enough for the Pas
sage Of Train Or Cars-whst ~ has Cest
In Dollars Spent andin Human Lives Lost
The new aqueduct to supply this city with
water 10 approaching completion much more
rapidly than Is generally supposed. Already
30 Der cent. OF the excavation Is finished. and
about so per cent. OF the brick lining; and, un-
forseen accidents barred, tho entire work VIII
DO completed before the end OF the present
year. Thus will be given to New York another
notable marvel OF modern engineering. ana
work which will command the attention. OF sci
entiho tourists and students for many years TO
como before 1t shall be rivalled In magnitude.
A few general figures will give better con-
ception Of this work than now obtains. The
aousduct IL in reality continuous tunnel.
thirty miles In extent, with sectional area OF
l55h feet, or sufficiently large to accommo-
date an ordinary train OF cars. 1t traverses
broken country, now beneath lofty hills. again
crossing deep valleys; diving at times under
broad rivers: most OF tho way cut in solid
rock. its average depth beneath the surface
being about $50 feet. Excepting where 1t Is
carried under water courses, 1t maintains
perfectly regular though slightly descending
grade. and yot will deliver its vast river OF
water at the highest elevation on Manhattan
Island, thus giving head for distribution
which will carry 1t to the tops OF the loitiest
The present aqueduct has a sectional area OF
but 53,s feet, or but triilc more than ono
third of the new. Thus the new will he ca
pable Of furnishing the city three times the
volume Of water which the old aaueduct could
pacity, as It has been for several years past, to
the great anxiety Of tho engineers and others
concornod. Indeed, tho public has happily not
appreciated the very great danger to which tho
city has been subjected of late years on this
account. The old aaueduct is a comparatively
never intended In It's construction to withstand
any internal pressure. IL could carry with per;
feet safety two-thirds or three-9uarters Its full
pieteiy 'lilied. But Of late years it has been
crowded and compelled 70 carry the lust pos 3,;
siSs snd sby to me
And while thus forced TO its utmost 1t has been
unable to supply any excess OF water; 50 TINT
brought face to face with water famine OF tho
most serious character.
In tho construction OF tho new aqueduot. one
of tho most notable pieces Of engineering is
the crossing Of the Harlem river. Everybody
knows that the old acuueduct crosses on the
mean high water. That. lofty bridge. with its
massive stone piers and beautifully rounded
arches has long been one OF the attraetio o OF
passes under the bed OF tho river ut depth OF
225 feet, or nearly twice rs far below the water
great depth Is much more than was originally
Contemplated. but was found necessary be-
cause the pf ssurs in the roek
to be twelve fect in width near the bottom Of
the river, but gradually narrowed until 1t was
lost at the depth at which the tunnel was hnai-
The tunnel is to be lined with brick from end
to end, and at the crossing OF rivers Is al.
verified syphon, or a letter v, and, Of course,
will be subjected to immense strain at its lower
thickness of the brick lining and the addition
The iron tqbtns ALREADY ap2aks1 or River
tween shafts 10 and IA. very troublesome
body of qpicksand was encountered which
come. o :" When hen Wrnck it ' ran Into the tunnel
with such force and rapidity that the workmen
barely escaped With th HIr lives running Eat at
expended in the effort to exhaust it. Then an
sna shroush Wc dsana9e WAS St Bis
F e s .S S r hssf2
overcome that tro9besome encounter before
re Returning to details Of the work. which was
@ neSsdss 81 eSt Of 0 ossn OF tbs
the excavations are eompieted 9n 5s's2s;s ies..
6sss saa ss to DE aa %hcs
they have finished 1865 feet, leaying 6,33s
feet yet to be accomplished; John Brunton 4
tho tn, Harlsm kiVer Of which they have COM
plsrted $3.50 iosS, leaving s274 to be sxcayated,
to June ha sss bsen
S Of &. soSa work Of
plies, sFamintnz snSlnears, rock b9r!nEs, q.
Of Fit as 81 sPa Rs5sn
g.
.aars Of less ssSiously wounded. sinss that
Ss hsss hsss asfH o.
wounded are chaFssa6jiss t. ! ths = ssoount 81
to j ohn Brunton \ CO. spd ! dead not located:
present year viii give to tho City no additional
Of az absolute stoppaee Of ali supply, and pro-
It is obtainabie. The present aqueduct Is capa-
bio, 80 long as 1t MAY. stand and perform the
81
tho water OF the Crotoa liver, TO secure that
duct Scheme s One oi these the sodam dam,
't a i for Of
when, required. The preliminary. work for
end reservoir Is now well advanced. The
Muscoot. dam takes the water above the
manner stores It e Po fed to the lover q main
dsred and, the surveys and designations of
lands required are In progress. Finally, the
Quaker Bridge dam proposes to catch all tho
water Of the Creton water shed and store it
duct, to Do drawn upon at all times. That dam
and the land II will submerge. will cost from
upon with great hesltancy. 1t will require q
number Of years to build 1t, and when COM
pleted 1t will be tho greatest dam ip existence,
The Sodom and Muscoot dams will supply all
the water required until the Quaker Bridge
dam Is completed. AND that win then, supply
the anticipated wantSof a quarter Of q CEN
fury to come. The work on thess dams should
have been begun several years ago, AS It ID,
the new aqueduct will be completed at least
twsyears before 1t will have any more water
to carry than ID now being brought TO the city.
NERVE AND GOLD.
An Old-faahioned Story OF tho Good Old
Times On tho MiasiAsippl.